Sunday, May 3, 2009

A resident of Iloilo coming home from the United States was briefly quarantined on Saturday but tested negative for swine flu, or the A (H1N1) infection. The male adult was tagged after a thermal scan at the airport showed he had the symptoms of flu, Doctor Ariel Valencia, officer-in-charge of the Department of Health in Western Visayas, said

The man was released from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila on Sunday after the test turned negative for the virus, Valencia said in a telephone interview.

The WHO has reported that 16 countries have officially reported 658 cases of A (H1N1) infections and 17 deaths. In Mexico, believed to be the epicenter of an imminent pandemic, almost a thousand flu cases, over 150 of which ended in deaths, were believed to have been caused by the virus.

There were no new confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases in the Asia-Pacific region on Sunday, except that South Korea reported another "probable" case of the flu. South Korea's Yonhap reported on Sunday a probable case of the flu in a 61-year-old woman who had boarded the same passenger plane with the country's first confirmed patient. But the case needs further confirmation.

Hong Kong reported no new confirmed case of Influenza A/H1N1 apart from the city's first case involving a Mexican man, who was now in stable condition in a local hospital, officials said Sunday.

Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection received reports on 15 patients in line with the reporting criteria for Influenza A/H1N1, but the possibility of infection has been ruled out for five of them, while laboratory tests on the other 10 were still going on, said Thomas Tsang, controller of the center.

Authorities were still trying to track down no more than 50 of the guests who have not contacted health authorities since the quarantine order was enforced, Tsang told reporters at a daily briefing on the latest flu-related developments.

Meanwhile, the governments in the region continue to be on high vigilance against the possible spread of the virus, initially known as "swine flu".

The New Zealand health authorities have earmarked funds for three hotels as quarantine and treatment facilities to handle growing cases of Influenza A/H1N1.

The hotels, near the Auckland International Airport, were rolled into the action plan to combat the virus after officials had trouble finding locations to quarantine international visitors, the New Zealand Herald online reported on Sunday.

The health authorities dealing with the flu were stepping up their efforts to gather information from passengers arriving at Auckland International Airport.

All passengers flying into New Zealand from any destination will now be asked to fill out a form, Radio New Zealandquoted Health Minister Tony Ryall as saying.

The Ministry of Health said that within New Zealand there are now four confirmed cases of A/H1N1 flu, 12 probable cases and 101 suspected cases.

In Australia, Health Minster Nicola Roxon said on Sunday the flu is likely to come to Australia at some point but the government is ready to act when it does.

No one has so far tested positive to the virus, but 80 people have been still waiting for test results in Australia, according to the federal Health Department.

Thailand on Sunday raised its Influenza A/H1N1 preventive measures to "maximum", with all visitors even dignitaries entering the country subjected to thermal scanners.

The heat-detecting devices will be installed at airports and border checkpoints as part of stepped-up surveillance for the flu. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart and Manit on Saturday inspected the quarantine center at Suvarnabhumi airport where six scanners have been installed.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said no case was found inflected by the deadly A/H1N1 flu virus and there was no need to be panic.

The government has stocked enough antiviral medicine and taken adequate measures to prevent the disease but the public should often wash hands and take care of personal hygiene, he said in a weekly national radio and TV address.

Health officials are gearing up for the arrival of a group of 14 Thai students and volunteers from Mexico, where the Influenza A/ H1N1 broke out, said Deputy Prime Minister Sanan. The group, the first to come from Mexico since the outbreak, will undergo a thorough health examination at the airport.

There are two patients under health quarantine -- a 42-year-old woman and 46-year-old man -- at state hospitals. Health officials said initial test results showed the woman was free of the flu, but more tests were under way.

Egyptian police and armored cars charged into a crowd of a 1,000 irate pig farmers armed with stones and bottles, leaving 12 people injured as residents of a Cairo slum resisted government efforts to slaughter the nation's pigs to guard against swine flu.

The Congressional Planning and Budget Department (CPBD), the think-tank of the House of Representatives, said the government should review the Oil Deregulation Law to help curb smuggling in the country.

TAXI OPERATORS have branded as illogical a regulatory order for them to install by June meters capable of issuing receipts due to its financial cost, and instead called for the issuance of manual receipts.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the state pension fund manager, is releasing the monthly pensions of its members on the eight day of every month instead of the usual first banking day, its president and general manager Winston Garcia said during the weekend.

A graduate of the Talisay City College placed ninth in the recent Licensure Examination for Teachers-elementary level, official results of the Professional Regulation Commission showed. iza Valenzona Pansacala, 20, a resident of barangay Mohon in Talisay City, got a score of 87.20 percent together with four students from other schools.

In the elementary level examination, 7,470 passed out of 26,812 examinees while 5,914 passed out of 23,975 examinees in the secondary level. These figures represent 27.86 percent and 24.67 percent passing rates for the elementary and secondary level examinations, respectively.

Tejero barangay captain Jessielou Cadungog wants an investigation into the alleged "bad food" served to the participants of the 2nd Children Summer Camp that was held recently in Boljoon town. "It came to my attention that the food served during the five-day seminar consisted mostly of sardines and there was one time that chicken was served but no longer fit for eating. The mothers of the children we sent complaining because the children were experiencing loose bowel movement and stomachaches," Cadungog said in a letter addressed to the office of acting city mayor Michael Rama. The letter was sent through Emmanuel Nadela, the president of the Cebu City Federation of Barangay Children's Organization (CCFBCO), the main organizer of the event. Other organizers include the Cebu City Gender and Development Federation (GAD) and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF).

The event has over 900 participants and accompanying adults.

According to the invitation letter sent by Nadela to the barangays, the Summer Camp, which was celebrated under the theme, "Lihok Kabataan, Mahimo Nato ni!" was a five-day event that was highlighted by the community exposure through a Heritage and Nature Walk, team building challenges course, crafts learning, emergency and first aid and culminated through a barrio fiesta.

The fee of P500 included a camp t-shirt, insurance, sling bag, ID, documenters' and facilitators' fee and camp materials.

The Naval Construction Brigade of the Philippine is working with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133 of the United States Navy in building a single-room schoolhouse and reconstructing a facility of the Looc National High School in Lapu-Lapu City.

A total of 9,423 inmates in selected district, city and municipal jails nationwide are expected to benefit from micro-infrastructure projects worth P7 million in a bid to improve their living conditions.

Police have arrested a man allegedly involved in the killing of a barangay councilman of Olango, Aloguinsan, last Saturday night. The suspect was identified as a certain Edmart Ian Delica, 20, a resident of barangay Saksak of the said town.

Police also said that they thought there were only three suspects who shot dead barangay councilman Primitivo Satera Sr., 49, but most likely there were five.

Satera was shot dead around midnight last Saturday in Olango, Aloguinsan, by neighbors after he reprimanded one of them for repeated reckless driving of a motorcycle in their area.

The House of Representatives will have to wait until Tuesday to resume its debate on the Charter change proposal that would allow foreigners to invest in real estate, media, and natural resources extraction.

In the dressing room shortly after halting Ricky Hatton, newly crowned IBO lightwelterweight champion Manny Pacquiao revealed the secret weapon that delivered the victory here Saturday night. "It was the right hook," said Pacquiao. "We worked on it in the gym because we knew Hatton wouldn't be able to defend it. We prepared hard for this fight. Hatton's a tough fighter but for over two months, we studied his moves very carefully on tape. We predicted what he would do and we came out with a plan to counter every move." "He's a hard puncher and I felt his power," said Pacquiao. "Freddie (Roach) and Buboy (Fernandez) wanted me to go to the body. That was the plan. But when his defense opened up, I took advantage. I saw his defense go towards my right because I dropped him with a right hook and that gave me the opening to throw my left hook. I was never afraid of him. But I knew I had to be careful because he's a great champion."

Top Rank big boss Bob Arum extolled Manny Pacquiao as the 'greatest' of all great men in boxing history whose steadfast desire to scale far greater heights despite his already superlative achievement and legendary status is worth emulating for by the rest of the world-class athletes.

Based on his guaranteed purse of $12 million, Manny Pacquiao technically earned $2 million per minute for his two-round demolition of Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand. It was the biggest fight ever for Pacquiao. It was the first time he received a guaranteed purse of $12 million, and he stands to earn a couple more on the giant pay-per-view sales that should come in a week or two from now.

Pacquiao's guaranteed purse is equivalent to P576 million and if one pushes through with the dollar-per-round earnings, it means Pacquiao earned more or less P96 million for every minute.

Or P16 million per second.

Pacquiao threw a total of 127 punches against Hatton (105 power punches and 22 jabs) and connected 73 times for a high 57 percent, according to computer statistics.

Hatton threw only 78 punches and landed only 18 times (two jabs and 16 power punches).

Again, if it is to be computed, he technically earned $164,000 for each of the 73 punches landed (65 power punches and 8 jabs).

That's P7.8 million for every punch, including the one that knocked Hatton out in the second round.

Manny Pacquiao's mother Dionisia was nowhere in sight when her son wrested the IBO lightwelterweight crown from Ricky Hatton on a second round technical knockout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here Saturday night. One of Pacquiao's brothers Rogel, who is president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, said his mother was in her Mandalay Bay hotel suite praying the rosary while the title changed hands.

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) recorded yesterday zero vehicular accidents and crimes in Metro Manila as the metropolis waited to watch the match between boxers Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton.

A 64-year-old man suffered a heart attack while watching the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight in a neighbor's house in San Pascual town yesterday, and failed to reach the hospital alive, police said. Francisco Lalongisip, a retiree, was watching a pay-per-view broadcast of the bout in his neighbor's house in Barangay Ilat South when he suffered a heart attack at around 11:40 a.m.

"He was jumping and clapping for joy when he just lost consciousness after Manny knocked out Hatton in the second round," Lalongisip's younger sister Bernardita toldThe STAR.

MANNY Pacquiao's match with Ricky Hatton yesterday cost a life in Lapu-Lapu City and caused injuries for three boxing fans in Medellin town. Abeth Ali, 50, suffered a heart attack and died while watching the brief exchange of blows between the Filipino boxing hero and the British slugger. Ali didn't even see the second round, when Pacquiao knocked out Hatton with seven seconds left. In the Medellin case, Michael Vergara, Frederick Booc and Wilfredo Taborada also had to be brought to the hospital after suffering minor burns.

They were installing an antenna to get a clearer reception of the fight when they lost their balance.

The bamboo pole the three used in climbing to the roof slipped and leaned on a transmission line of the Cebu Electric Cooperative II, causing electricity to flow from the wire.

In Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu, 50-year-old Eduardo Borris, a carpenter, was injured after losing a P500-bet on Hatton.

Michael Moreno, 24, told the police he was enjoying his time with friends and discussing the fight—he bought them a case of beer using the money he won from Borris—when he was attacked.

Moreno said they fought off Borris, who was armed with a piece of sharpened metal.

From Miguel Coto, Sugar Shane Mosley to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the sky's the limit now for Manny Pacquiao. Freddie Roach mentioned the name of the three boxing stars as the possible next opponent for Pacquiao, whom he wants to be back on the ring either by November or December.

The National Historical Institute (NHI) criticized on Sunday singer Martin Nievara's rendition of the Philippine National Anthem at the beginning of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton bout in Las Vegas earlier Sunday.

Thirteen people were killed while nine others were missing as tropical storm "Dante" (international codename: Kujira) intensified and brought more rains to the Bicol provinces, the Office of Civil Defense said.